Vaca

We had one incredible vacation in July! My parents "rented" (read: took over) a distant cousin's home in Kimberling City, Missouri, which is on Tablerock Lake. We went a couple years ago with all of my cousins and had an incredible vacation floating and drinking. This trip was just slightly different... We simply slept, ate, slept, drank, ate, floated, drank, drank, slept, ate, drank, drank and then slept some more. I think everyone adopted to Isabel's two nap a day schedule quite well!

The housing arrangements were perfect for our family dynamic. Me, Ben and Isabel had a separate guest house, which was perfect for naps and the peanut's early bedtime. My parents stayed next door with my cousin Steve, in the home he recently built. My parents friend's, the Semelka's and Kellenberger's, stayed in one of the condos down the street. It was a fun little compound!

The weather was beautiful, the house was incredible and the company couldn't be better. It was next to perfect...I'm crossing my fingers that my Dad will someday consider a vacation home like this.

I was really nervous for our first day out on the boat. Isabel never really got to the point where the life jacket was completely zipped, fastened and ready to go...so I was apprehensive about the first ride. Needless to say, she did pretty well (the first day). She was definitely uncomfortable, but she survived.

Frozen in my arms...confused about the "straight jacket".

"Too winny"

"ohhh", Isabel's face of excitement

All the excitement tired out the baby...she was asleep by the time we got to the first cove for swimming.

On the way home we had to stop for gas...which was pushing Isabel's limits with the life jacket. So what else do you do to appease a child in this type of situation....BRIBE them. The orange push-up that Grandpa bought for her worked wonders!

Home again and ready for another nap.

Day 2...Isabel is slowly figuring things out.

"Who is the idiot that tied this thing in knots? Seriously...how are we going to use this for the anchor?"

and the picture quota has been reached...

Our non-sunshine time...doing some work

"This boat driving business is tricky..."

Floating with Grandma and checking out rocks in the lake. At this point we were at the "island" so it was really shallow water...which was a little safer with da baby!

Checkout my diaper butt...wet diapers must weigh 10 lbs...

Family photo op

Grandpa and Cousin Steve with Miss Isabel. Isabel loved on Mr. Moose so much during the week, that Steve sent the moose home with her.

Thanks again Grandma and Grandpa AND Cousin Steve!!! Can't wait for next year!!